Two Author Events: Gail Sheehy and Dan Jones

I have attended two author events at the public library in the past couple of weeks. I love going to these well-attended affairs. Even though I don't always buy or even read the visiting author's book, just seeing and hearing them is a treat.

Gail Sheehy

Journalist Gail Sheehy was on tour with her memoir Daring: My Passages. She is the author of a book that I had on my shelves through many of my own passages but never read and finally gave away. Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life was originally published in 1984 and took a look at the growing pains of adults. Perhaps now would be a better time to read the book so I could just acknowledge, "Been there. Done that."

In Daring, Sheehy, now in her seventies, looks at her career as a journalist for New York magazine and Vanity Fair. She brought along a slide show with photos of her on assignment; of her husband and editor, Clay Felker; and of her with all sorts of the high-profile folks she has interviewed over time.

She has certainly led an eventful life, but I just couldn't warm up to her.

Dan Jones

On Monday night, I heard British journalist and historian Dan Jones speak. His latest book, The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses and the Rise of the Tudors continues the saga of his 2012 book The Plantagenets: The Kings Who Made England. 

He attended the University of Cambridge and is still a bit unsure why he chose to study the Middle Ages. But, as he said, "sometimes you fall in love with a period of history and you just can't leave it alone."

Besides having his feet planted in those centuries of long ago, he writes about sport - rugby, football, and yes, cricket - and attendant personalities for the London Evening Standard.

Mr. Jones was very witty (and handsome) and I learned a great deal about the Middle Ages in Great Britain. Many bloody battles were fought and many men were named Edward, Richard, or Henry. I found it difficult to keep up with all of it, but I enjoyed his presentation.